‘Favour’ led to arrest

Woman remanded for mate’s drug in purse

A FAVOUR for a friend landed a Cairns retail worker in jail on drugs charges.

Kristy Lee FenwickScales, 21, appeared in custody at Cairns Magistrates Court last week charged with possessing a dangerous drug while she was on bail.

The court heard she “rather stupidly” let a friend use her wallet to store methylamphetamine.

Police allegedly found the drug along with a glass pipe after Christmas.

The defendant’s solicitor – acting for Tom Eckersley Law – said the pipe was unused and had been forgotten about by the time of arrest. He said Ms Fenwick-Scales’ “trouble seemed to be associating with the wrong people”.

Prosecutor Megan Howard told the court Ms Fenwick-Scales was on bail for “very serious” charges.

“There is still a period of imprisonment hanging over her head,” Ms Howard said.

“She is a woman who makes her own decisions – hanging around with the wrong people is not something that can be circumvented by the court.”

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton noted the defendant had also faced drugs charges in 2016.

“On the scheme of things these are not the most serious drug offences given the small amount of the drug involved,” Mr Luxton said.

“But when you were placed on your previous undertaking you were not to engage in illegal activities.”

Mr Luxton said the “evidence was strong” that Fenwick-Scales had used illegal substances while on bail and that the defendant was facing a large number of charges for more serious matters.

Ms Fenwick-Scales wept as the magistrate ruled that she had not shown cause for granting bail and remanded her in custody.

The visibly distressed defendant tried to speak to the watch house officer before being led to the cells.

The matter has been adjourned for mention in Cairns Magistrates Court at a later date.

HANGING AROUND WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CIRCUMVENTED BY THE COURT PROSECUTOR MEGAN HOWARD